It may be counterintuitive and unglamorous in the world of sexy startups and high-stakes buyouts, but it's also my truth: The spirit of giving over the holidays is what led me to the world of investing.

Worldwide 748 million people live without safe water and 2.5 billion live without sanitation. Water-related diseases are among the leading causes of preventable child deaths in the world and approximately 60 million children are born into homes without access to sanitation.

As we recognize #GivingTuesday and kickoff the holiday season, think about the choices you make, find what inspires you, commit to give back, and each day please do something that touches the lives of others either in your local community or in our global community.

Over the next several weeks -- as we navigate mall parking lots, fill our shopping carts and test our patience in check-out lines -- let's not lose sight of what's behind this excitement. It all comes down to the simple act of giving.

Having books on the shelves of homes, classrooms, libraries, and community centers alone won't solve all our education challenges, but coupled with literacy programs and family engagement, it is one of the first, basic steps we can take to ensure all children are prepared to succeed academically.

We are beginning to see glimmers of hope that this deadly virus can be stopped, but much work remains to be done. It is time now for Americans, as individuals, to step up and show their compassion for the people of West Africa.

I had taken birthing classes to educate and prepare myself, and avoided reading books that highlighted all the things that could go wrong. It wasn't just an act of self-preservation, it was knowing the sad reality that thousands of pregnant women face daily.

This year, as you're searching for the perfect gift or stocking stuffer, consider that it may not be a sweater or the latest gadget. It can be as easy as sharing that moment of change through #GivingTuesday and changing the reality we see every day on the streets.

On Tuesday, December 2, charities, individuals, schools, businesses and other community organizations will come together to celebrate the third annual #GivingTuesday, a national day of giving back that reminds each and every one of us that, whether through a charitable donation or volunteerism, we can all make a positive impact on our communities this holiday season.

I am grateful for this year's #GivingTuesday to coincide with World AIDS Day and to continue our workshops that teach children to value their own lives even when others do not. I am reminded of the valuable contribution and dedication of so many who work in the trenches across such organizations.

Like many parents, I want my children to be kind. I want them to understand how lucky they are. I naively thought that this would just sort of happen -- either via genetic makeup, or via osmosis. Mom likes to give = kids like to give, right?

When you sit down for a meal on Giving Tuesday, you can set aside a place for a "silent guest," one of the world's hungry. Then you could make a donation to a charity, the cost of feeding your "silent guest."

Fifteen years ago I was excitedly packing my surfboards, destined for my first trip to the Disneyland of surfing, the Mentawai Islands. At the time I was on a roll, a successful doctor, climbing the corporate ladder.

I promise you that whatever you are going through, giving back opens unprecedented doors. I still miss my mom every day, but when I see the smiles on the faces of the people that I help I know I am honoring her legacy.